Following an afternoon at Portsmouth's Gin Festival last summer, Suzy MacKay (Manager of The King Lud Pub in Ryde) and ginthusiast, Helen Maddox, have been working on bringing a boutique element of the festival to the Isle of Wight.

These wannabe 'Gintellectuals' are pleased now announce the first Boutique Gin Festival takes place on the Isle of Wight later this week (18th September).

The event will be fundraising for the Wight Brainy Bunch - a charity set up to raise money for brain tumour research.

What's on offer
Expect to see Tamara Purves, previously in the travel team for William Grant & Sons when Hendricks was launched. Ryde upholstery and Rosemary Vineyards will be sponsoring a limited edition gin cocktail for the afternoon and the festival will be exclusively offering rhuby, a new Sweish rhubarb liquer.

The creator of gin and tonic cupcakes and also an Island creator and producer of gin objets d'art will be displaying their wares.

Even Fever Tree, 'the ultimate tonic', have sponsored the event and will be joining them for the day.

Free event
This will be a free, non ticketed event - to encourage those out enjoying the seafront on the day to pop in.

Look forward to three tasting tables, made up of 20 gins, all from micro distilleries around the country, matching the Island ethos - small is good - supporting people who are passionate about gin.

There'll be a large gazebo shading the pavement tables and Xavier Baker from local Isle of Wight distillers, Mermaid Gin, will be milling around to chat to those who want to find out more about the distilling process.

Food, music and more
As well as free flow tonic and gorgeous garnishes, scrummy nibbles, the Lud's very own Bloodstone Border Morris team will be launching the event with their unique singing, dancing and music.

They'll be followed by The Alberts, who'll be performing music through the decades for the duration of the event to add the final touch to the organisers' overall aim of an afternoon of happiness.

Head to The King Lud on Sunday 18th September from 2pm onwards.

Image: andrew under CC BY 2.0